Cushion release hitch



l2, 1944 G. DEN BESTEN v2,358,217

CUSHION RELEASE HITGHA Filed March 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l -GDM E G. D'EN BESTEN CUSHION RELEASE HITCH sept. 12, 1'944.

Filed March 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MYBT Gerrit Devi B eem ing forwardly extended, as at I2a, and the top extended and curved downwardly for a short distance as indicated at I3a. Each of the vertical sides I2 at itslower portion has a rearwardly projecting extension I4,` the upper edges thereof lying immediately below the lower edge of the cross plate I I of the housing. The lower front corner portions of the sides downwardly and outwardly as shown at I4a (Fig.

7,) below the upper forward extensions I2a.Y To

ward the rear of the carrier but located a distance forward of the rearward extensions I4, a cross. bar I5 is positioned and permanently secured as by welding tothe sides I2 of the carrier and extending between them. The bar I5 is of suflicient cross sectional area .that it has great strength.

A rod I6 is passed to the rear through an opening-in the bar I5. Rod I6 at its forward end is equipped with a head which comes against the front side of the bar I5 and extends rearwardly over the bottom leg vI of the angle member and is threaded at its end. A washer I'I is placed over the rear end portion of the rod and a nut I8 screwed on the rod against Ithe rear side of the washer. A heavy coiled compression spring I9 is located around rod I6 between said washer II at its rear end and theback plate II of the housingV and the .head of end.

Itis of c ourse to be understood that such head of the bolt 1 isl used because the bolt is thus available. for. both a bearing for one end of the springgll vand'for Vconnecting the bar 6 lin place.

But the bar 6 may be attached, if it is used, in

other ways, and the head of the bolt 'l in such case replaced by an Yequivalent lug or other abutment .located and secured inV substantially the same position.

Itis obvious that the spring I9 may be initially compressed to a greater or less degree by an adjllStment ofthe nut I8. A bar is placed inan angular position (Fig. 3) between the legs I and 2 of the angle member described and welded atY its'ends to said legs servingas a lock against undesired turningimovement of the nut I8. To hold the parts in position a guard plate 2| has a lower edge thereof coming against the upper side of the leg I, extends upwardly and is curved to pass over the spring I9 and the upper edge. of the leg 2, and provided with a downturned flange 22 through which a Set screw 23 may passand threadinto a suitable opening in leg 2. This guard is located toward the rear end of the spring I9. Y It may be removed by removing the set screw 23 if at any time it is desired to repair or replace the rod I'6 and the spring I9 or to` adjust the position of the nut I8'. The position ofthe bar I5 and the carrier to which it is connected relative to the housing rin which the carrier is mounted Vvaries in` accordance with; the adjustment of the nut I8. Normally the barv I5 inA the operative position of Ytherhtch (Fig.

The carrier extends forwardV of the housing, the sides at their upper portion be-v I2 are.. extended the bolt I at its front 8) should be a short distance ahead of the stop or abutment provided by the head of bolt 'I.

A pin 24 is mounted on and extends between the front end portions of the sides I2a of the carrier, which sides are ribbed for reinforcement. On the -pin 24 a clevis holding member is rotatably mounted. It has two integral arms 25 and 26, the pivot being substantially at their juncture and the arms diverging and separated Vby' a clevis receiving space 21.

The forward arm extending lugs 28 the purpose of Ywhich will be hereinafter described. The free end of the rear arm 26is provided with a concaved seat or socket 29 and terminates in a terminal lip 30 as shown.

To engage with the rotatably mounted clevis holding member a clevis 3| of U-form is connected with the draw bar 32 of a tractor. In the operative position (Fig. 8) the clevis is in the recess atV 21 belowthe arm 26 and back of the arm 25. The clevis holding member is held in the position shownf'until automatically disen-gaged, and it is evident that the line. of force of the clevis in such position is located a short distance below the axis of the pin 24 so that when the clevis holding member is released it will be turned in' a counter-clockwise direction, the clevis releasing therefrom, as in Fig. 7.

A latching member for the clevis holding member is pivotally suspended from a cross pin 33 located near the upper side I3 and approximately half way between the front and rear ends of the carrier; The Q latch member comprises two spaced sides 34idepending from the pin connected by an integral cross piece 35 at the lower rear corner portions of the sides, the front side of which is of a curved form providing a socket similar to the socket"`29. The lower ends of thesides 3,4 arereach provided with substantially horizontal slots 36 which preferably at their lower sidesrand between their ends are slightly raised to make a curved hump 3T. VA roller 38 extends between said sides 34 and has its ends received in the slots. Said roller has free movement and may traverse the slots the limited distance provided from one end thereof to the other.

A trip bar 39 of flat metal is connected at its front end to a pin 40 which extends between the sides 34 of the latching member above the cross ybar 35. Y The bar extends upwardly and to the rear and is then `bent to extend horizontally back of the carrier and back of the carrier housing through the opening vabovethe rear end II of the housing, resting on the upper edge ofsaid endl I. The trip bar 39 back of the housing is provided with Aa series of lspaced holes 4I in any one of which a bolt V42 may be placed and secured. 'I'he position of the bolt on the trip bar will govern the tripping of the latch, the closer the bolt is to the forward opening 4I, the quicker the latch will be tripped to release the clevis holding member. l

A bent lever 43 is mounted for pivotal movement vat the upperside of the carrier in front of the housing, having downwardly extending arms which engage against the front edges of the sides 34 of the latching member toward their lower ends. The bent lever is pivotally held in position by a screw as at 44 passing through it and being connected withV the upper side I3 of the carrier. Downward pressure on the upper forwardlyext'ending armof the bent lever will turn the latching member to thxe rear'about its pvot pin 33 against the force of light springs 45 antenne 3;;

whichare finterposedanbetweenp. the fsidesi@ Of' the latchingA memberfandthe crosszfbanl 5 on the carrier. Y It. isxthef; function go: the fspringssl: to: no rmally swing; the lower endiofizthesl atching': member'. :to ,-afforwandf-position:

barr'SS-s offthe;latchingzmember.; The laiichinggv mem-bem is held-'jim its: forward positiomby@ thej spr-ings45'; and: anypullnbyw thee tractor; transal mitted through the clevis,.thestendencyiofmvhiclr `isfto :cause :the -fclevis engagingrmemberfstofzturn countere'clockwise; results?. inigripping-stifle.-y roller;

. The Espringl 9 fwillbefk compressedi. under-:made

the-ecarrierf and Vthefsparts associateditherewithibegin; movedf forward-i witlr reference.l tothef` housingin whichxitis.telescopically-:received ani amount 'equal to.l the spr-ing1 compression'. Under normalicondiltions ofi-"pulling the;cornpressione-o'ff'L dzzwillfcome to:thefbackiplate-l I fofth housingv andrfconnectonf-of-fthe tractor` andiim-plemerrtl drawn ltherebyis -lsecurelyfmaintained underallf nnrma'l icon ditions Upon -the fproductin tof fanr excessive pullfb'e' tween rther tractor-'f and-' the "dr'awnL implement,-A

forf example; if lfthe drawn implementfisarplowh i and? it shouldhitj a solidi obstruction` in* Vthe-- ground; th'ef'spririgf I9'fwill'be/compressedemuch fartifer= bringing# the bolt-l 42- againstvv the rear" endl ofi-f the housing;` Then with the lcontinued forward `:movement of the carrier'fth'ele'ttchingf` -1 1- i member= will-fbe held-- against moving Witlr-V said cariierfat-:its -lowerfend andV` willf'beA 1turned-rela; tiveto theL carrier' substantially `to theposirtion shown' in'lig.Y 10i-y The roller-38"traversesthe slots :Buntil the fforwardf end thereof is reached and 'thereafter` with-continued forward@ move;

ment of the carrieriheyterminal 11i-pj3lloftheL upper armV 36of theclevis-holdingymember'will is-swung tothe positionshownA inwFfigz- '7- withY f a`-d i's`connection\of tbe--clevis fron/:fthe hitch;.

X Upon the-` disconnection occurring? spring- I9h being released wil1 pullthe carrif-:rbackfintov the housing.- Insteadhowever; oli-they baryl't striking) solidly; against*v the* stonerA abutment provided byy the; head 'ofj the bolt 1,"- th'e project'. ing rearl end-'portions l4- ofthe `sides I 2" of the carrier lcome against`Y thel front en'd ofgthe spring I 91' and serve "toA 'cushion the blowj `of striking; of said b'ar AI 5"againstthefstop.r o

In practice af cableorline A46 mayjbe attachedVVV to v.anfupwardly eXtendingA-eal-on the vertical leg plementfand :fastened thereto -to prevent the -forward endof thevhitcli dropping4 dow-ntotheground when releasertakesplace. For reconnec-v tion the tractorisback'edto position-so\that1the clevis occupies substantially thef positioni or: af-

little farther back thanshownin 7'; the

hitch being lifted to aposition. aboveV that norrna'lly` occupied;whenfconnected Ywith the-1 clvis;V

Y and then the; forwardiend ofE the liitchloweredSi toi engage,l with i the .clevis r. 'and turn-1Y the; clevi-s holding member in a clockwise directioni As:V thei clevis: holding member` moves backi tot.. its latched position, itv will force the .rol-ler; 3.83;` and;

its pivoted, carrying member back-ward;byecam-:-H ming action against thelight springs 45;iunti1itgz has moved upward sufficiently to permit thee rollerr38fto comefintoplacebeneath it.

It, isaoffcommeY evident Lthat ..divseneeeement iof thea traetmefand ldra implementgmarffbeeoba tainedzat Wilke any tmc Clorfrrv/ardcpressmel uponfthe; upperjarmofithe iberrtdererf forcing A'fnartcularly mportantrjfeatureiof-thisecona strutiomis theecomnle ei eliminations off-:f wearduringnnormal p lineri, .latchipartsser ef; wlchrarerfu-nderfstrainnarei. ounted inftheicare rieraandztmove .a iuniztthgrewithiduring the. cushioningl actioxrnn whichsthesspring.; I escom: pressessl The; carrier siidesxs-inf;they housingirby bhe-spullingeloadcdoesfnote inripose; frictional` re` sistancezto'zthis anote-ment because both Ithe aca` i if tionxoffthevfspring IStandithe'epullingiloadareoin;

ainementswith? y the movement g offftlre-1carrier-in therhnusings Furthermoregfweari-on thelatchv partsais reduceddaoatminimum becausewhen the,vr unlatching 1 occurs the: end offth'e f I arms;A 262 rolls; f Onthearoller =28and the; roller: rolls the slots` 3B thereby eliminatingweaxu causedfbyaslidingf engagement.`

Thelugs: atril servesasisupports for= the .sides` a ofthe .fclevis' .on sharplyfturning fthe tractor withV referencewtithe hitch?. particularly@ the .forward l lugs.128 support foneksidexorthelotherof-theclevisl: depending upon` the direction orf-: turning andi holdittfrom: camming-downward-lyA underneath: theF-forward@downwardly-curved fedge of the farm? 25:of the.clevislholdingimember; 'f

The :construction isieconomicalgtov-produce, bei

ing ma'dellaiigelyf.- from#st-eeltwhichi is readily forimedi#aridi-faloricateetandweldedtogethenI Ther n clevi-s-1 lroldirig-jmernber dthe latch arescast;` The hump ati31whi1e'no necessarily essentlallto tnefworkingoftnehitcnqserves inrameasuretoa occurwlien antobstruotion Wasfstruckybut was f overcome andgpassedgiv causing -th'eldeyelopment `off rier slidably Yrrlounted within s Y v -IfiOilSQng and Projecting therefreni` ai. hitch member, .pivotal.1r

member to-holdjjitjlinioperative position, yieldalole4 springffmeansnorniallyj holn i'ingf thev carrierv ina means yielding on'phulling hjmember. and' a tr ip `tiem ofpullingfforceitothehit-chf member and compressionrothe# spring with resultantgmove-- ment ofi' the carrier-in the heusir'igkr 1a In combinationrgail elongated; supporting', member-having a-hous'ing'atitsfr nt,endta car.-

cient toL causdoperativeuactienonythetrip to" eleasethc; ..5`f1atch1: V; Y ,1' d Y Y '2. In a structure of the class'described, 'an elongated `supporting memben'a housing at one end of the supporting member Vopen vat its =outer end and partlyclosed at its inner end, a carrier slidably mounted in the housingfor movements in the direction of the length .of the'supporting member, said carrier havingspaced apart sides, a bar connecting said sidesatthe rear portionof the carrier, aV headed rod passingthroughhsaid bar, a coiled springv around said rod, meansv at the outer end of the rod engaging with said spring, the otherV end 'of said. spring bearing against the housing, a vhitch member pivotallymounted at the outer endof` the carrier, a'rpivotally mounted latch for said hitch rmemberito hold it in operative position, a trip'connected to said zlatch and extending backhof the housing, and an abutment on said trip bar back of the housing adapted to be brought against-the yhousing lon outwardl movement of the carrier and compression of said spring. y

3. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 2, combinedV with means for adjustably mounting said abutment on the Vtrip member to vary the distance of forward movement of thecarrier before ment engages said housing. V y

4. The elements in combination deiinedin claim 2, combined with manuallyoperable'means mounted on the outer portionof said carrier and.

engaging against the I atch for moving said latch away from the hitch member to'release it.

5.'fIn a structure of the class described, an elongated supporting member, `a vhousing at an end thereof having spaced apart sides and a top Y.

connected with said supporting'member,- the housing being open at its front. end,a plate partly closingthe rear-end of kthe housing, an

abutment carried by the supporting member -atthe lower rear portion of the housing, acarrier inserted in the open outer Vend of the housingand slidable back and forth therein, said carrier having spaced apart sides anda top connecting them, a bar extending b etweenffthe sides of theA housing toward the rear thereof, aV rod having a head at its'forward end passing through said bar and lying vover the supportingmember, -a

coiled compression springaround said-rod engag- Y ing at one end against said -rear housing plateand abutment, a Washer-and nuton therear end of the rod, a hitch member'comprisingtwo integral arms spaced from each other at theirV free end portions, means for pivotally mounting said hitch member substantially-,at the juncture of said arms on the outer end of saidA carrier, a latch pivotallysupported by and ldepending from said carrier between its sides, and a roller carried bysaid latch adapted to engage with one endiofone of said arms Yofthe hitchmember and be seated against the latch for holding the hitch member in operative position, f

n 6. A constructionV containingthe elements `in combination defined in claim 5, 'said1 latch in-V cluding two spaced apart depending sides and a bar having a curved socket `at its forward side connecting v the lower inner cornerfportions'of said sides, said. sides of the latch being slotted being received` in said slots, and the arm ofthe hitch member with which the'roller engages at its the abut-VV end having a concave socket to engage the roller;

l8. AA construction containing the' elements `in combination defined in claim 5, said latch having two' spaced apart sides, a rod between said sides between the upper and lower ends thereof, a trip bar connected with saidrod extending over'the back plate of the housing and to the rear thereof, vand a member connected with said trip bar back of lthe housing and adjustable to different positions thereon which is drawn to engagewith the back of the housing on outward movement of the carrier'and compression of the spring a predetermined distance.

l 9. A hitch comprising an elongated supporting member of angle form having a horizontal bottom leg and a vertical leg at one side thereof,` a substantially U-shaped housing at one end of the supporting member having a vertical side parallel to andspaced from the vertical leg of the supporting member and having a top extending toward and coming to said vertical leg and permanently connected therewith, i-said housing being `open at its outer end, a carrier inserted' inthe open-outer end of the housing having a top and spaced apartv depending sides,

ahitch member pivotally mounted at the outerend of the carrier between its sides, a pivotally mounted latch carried by and betweenV and depending downwardly within the sides of ysaid car-'-A rier, said latch being `adapted to engage the hitch Y member and hold it in operative position, a back plate across the inner end of the housing partially closingfsaid housing, a bar extending beoutwardly from said bar, the roller at its ends tween the sides of rthe( carrier, a headed rod passingthrough said bar and lying over the bottom leg of the supportngmember, a coiledV spring around the rod engaging at one end against the back plate of the housing, a washer and nut at the free end of the rod, and means to trip the latch andrfree the hitch member 'on forward movement of the carrier and compression of the spring a predetermined distance.

Y 10. A construction containing the elements in combination dened in claim 9, the sides of said carrier at their rear lower portions having rearwardly extending projecting portions adapted to within the angle portion of said support andv bearing at its forward end against the housing, means at the rear end of said rod bearing againstV saidfspring, said spring compressing during forwardY movement of the carrier and means for tion.

' Y' GERRIT DEN'BE'sTEN. 

